Review: "Dial A for Aunties, " by Jesse Q. Sutanto

 

Dial A for Aunties, by Jesse Q. Sutanto, is a character-driven novel that will keep you reading and laughing. If you need a murder/suspense/love story, this is the book for you. There is nothing that family won't do for each other, even hiding a dead body. Lots of foreshadowing throughout the book and Sutanto ties up everything in the end. Some of the resolutions feel a little contrived, but somehow they work and don't take away from how entertaining the novel is to read. On a deeper level, the book is about family expectations and the pressure we put on ourselves to meet those expectations even when they are self-imposed. 

Review: "What Would Frida Do," by Arianna Davis

Ariana Davis is the digital director for O, The Oprah Magazine, and has had a lifelong love for renowned painter Frida Kahlo. This biography of Frida is written as an instruction manual on how to live boldly like the artist. It is not a chronological tale of Frida’s life. Instead, the book is divided into ten chapters representing who Frida was and how you as the reader can exemplify these characteristics in your own life.  Chapter titles include: Confidence, Pain, Creativity, Style, Love, Heartbreak, Sex, Identity, Friendship, and Viva La Vida. Each chapter contains snippets of Frida’s life that correlate to the theme, followed by a deeper dive into a particular aspect of her life similar to an inset in a magazine article. Each chapter ends with a section titled “What would Frida do…” and gives the reader advice on how to incorporate the theme into their own life. 

Davis’s digital design background is evident in the book, with beautiful art throughout. One of my favorite parts of the book is the artist’s featured quotes accompanied by beautiful black and white floral motifs.

The writing is a straightforward, comprehensive look into Frida’s life, giving the reader an intimate look at the significance behind so many of Frida’s paintings and self-portraits. I love Frida Kahlo and have had the opportunity to visit Casa Azul in Mexico City, but  I still learned new things about Frida. My only complaint with the book is that some facts are repetitive between chapters, and as a reader, I didn’t find it necessary. Davis’s admiration of Frida is evident in her writing about the artist, and I love that she feels Frida’s presence throughout her writing journey. I highly recommend this book to anyone that appreciates Frida Kahlo’s art and struggles. It is a beautiful tribute to the inspiring artist’s life and an excellent guide for anyone who would like to live as boldly as Frida did.

****originally submitted as a class assignment for INFO 5410/UNT-Masters of Library Science